• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.145-154
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• 2017

Objectives : Bufalin is one of the bioactive component of 'Sum Su (蟾酥)', which is obtained from the skin and parotid venom gland of toad. Bufalin has been known to possess the inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in various cancer cells. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has concerned, because it can selectively induce apoptotic cell death in many types of malignant cells, while it is relatively non-toxic to normal cells. Here, we investigated whether bufalin can trigger TRAIL-induced apoptotic cell death in EJ human bladder cancer cells. Methods : Effects on the cell viability and apoptotic activity were quantified using MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. To investigate the morphological change of nucleus, DAPI staining was performed. Protein expressions were measured by immunoblotting. Results : A combined treatment with bufalin (10 nM) and TRAIL (50 ng/ml) significantly promoted TRAIL-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis in EJ cells. The apoptotic effects were associated with the up-regulation of death receptor proteins, and the down-regulation of cFLIP and XIAP. Moreover, our data showed that bufalin and TRAIL combination activated caspases and subsequently increased degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Conclusions : Taken altogether, the nontoxic doses of bufalin sensitized TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in EJ cells. Therefore, bufalin might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the safe treatment of TRAIL-resistant bladder cancers.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.81-85
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• 1999

Diazinon, an organophosphate pesticide, is relatively highly toxic to fish and causes vertebral malformation and behavioral change of fish at relatively low concentrations. To elucidate biochemical mechanism of the behavioral change of Oryzias latipes (killifish) caused by diazinon, the effect of the insecticide on acetylcholine esterase activities and the levels of some neurotransmitters were evaluated. Acetylcholine esterase activities in both head and body were significantly lowered at the concentration of 10 ppb of diazinon and acetylcholine contents in head tended to be upregulated with increasing concentration of diazinon. Exposure of killifish to 5000 ppb diazinon resulted in gradual decrease in acetylcholine content in body part with exposure time. Norepinephrine and serotonin concentrations in killifish head and body were highest at 1000 ppb of diazinon while neurotransmitter were relatively low in fish unexposed or exposed to lower dose of the pesticide, suggesting that increased norepinephrine and serotonin can partially account for diazinon-induced behavioral abnormality.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제9권1_2호
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• pp.1-8
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• 1994

Nerve conduction impairment in lead neuropathy has been empirically linked to altered nerve myo-inositol metabolism. In most cases of neuropathy, abnormal myo-inositol metabolism is associated with abnormal $Na^+/K^+$ATPase provides a potential mechanism to relate defects of the myo-inositol metabolism in the peripheral nerve treated with lead. Therefore, the effect of lead on the rat sciatic nerve $Na^+/K^+$ATPase and other ATPase of sciatic nerve was studied. ATPase activity was measured enzymatically in sciatic nerve homogenates from 2-wk lead treated neuropathy rats and age-mached controls administered myo-inositol. $Na^+/K^+$ATPase components were assessed by ouabain inhibition or the omission of sodium and potassium ions. Lead reduced 50% reduction in the $Na^+/K^+$ATPase activity in homogenates of sciatic nerve. The 50% reduction in the $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity was selectively prevented by myo-inositol treatment. This study suggests that the toxic mechanism of the lead on peripheral nerve may be through reduction in $Na^+/K^+$ATPase activity which has been linked to axonal transport slowing in the rat model of lead neuropathy, via direct changes by the perturbation of the intracelluar sodium or potasium level.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제7권1_2호
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• pp.17-34
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• 1992

The object of this study is to investigate the toxicity of S-biol (d-allethron-d-transchrysanthemate) and the mode of action between other synthetic pyrethroid insecticides and S-biol in rats. Rats were treated daily with S-biol (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100mg/kg) by oral administration for 5 weeks. The experimental results were summerized as follows: Biochemical parameters such as LDH and Glucose in serum were much more increased in control groups. No significant hematological change excepts for MCHC in rats treated with S-biol 100 mg/kg were observed in all groups compared to control groups. In animals treated with S-biol for 4∼5 weeks, the levels of cytochrome P-450 in the liver were significantly increased. In renal microsomal fractions, however, no significant changes of cytochrome P-450 contents were observed. The activitis of ATPase in groups treated with S-biol (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) were decreased compared to those in other groups. TBA values and activities of glucose-6-phosphatase in the liver were increased a little in the groups treated with S-biol (100 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. The activities of cholinesterase in hepatic and serum were not significantly changed in all groups but slightly decreased in animals treated with high dose of S-biol (100 mg/kg). The activities of carboxylesterase in serum and in the liver were slightly increased but not significantly changed.

• Carbon letters
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2002

The two-step surface modifications of activated carbon was carried out to improve the adsorption capacity of toxic heavy metal ions in liquid phase. Physical and chemical properties of the as-received activated carbon (AC) and two kinds of surface-modified activated carbons ($1^{st}AC$ and $2^{nd}AC$) were evaluated through the BET analysis, surface acidity, and oxides measurements. Specific surface area and pore volume did not significantly change, but surface oxide-group remarkably increased by the surface modification. Equilibrium and batch adsorptions of the various metals, such as Pb, Cd, and Cr, using AC, $1^{st}AC$, and $2^{nd}AC$ were performed at initial pH 5. The adsorption capacity and rate of $2^{nd}AC$ were higher than those of AC and $1^{st}AC$. The carboxylic/sodium carboxylate complex groups were developed from the two-step surface modification of activated carbon, which strongly affected the adsorption of metal ions.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.139-147
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• 2002

Hantaan (HTNV) and Puumala (PUUV) viruses cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in human. In the present study, the repeated dose toxicity of the HTNV-PUUV combination vaccine was evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were injected subcutaneously for 28 days with dosages of 0, 0.017, 0.17 and 1.7 dose/kg body weight per day, respectively. No any significant changes of body weight, food and water consumptions were shown. There were no death and clinical findings during the experimental period. In both male and female rats, there were not significant changes in hematological and serum biochemical analysis, urinalysis, and ophthalmoscopic and histopathological examination. These results indicate that the HTNV-PUUV combination vaccine may have no toxic effects and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) may be over 1.7 dose/kg/day at subcutaneous route in rats.

• 상하수도학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.585-594
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• 2006

This study focused on the causes of fish kills and its prevention methods in Yudeung Stream, Daejeon, Korea. Intense field data, continuous water quality monitoring system and water quality modeling were applied to analyze the causes. Pollutant can be delivered to urban streams by surface runoff and combined sewer overflows in rainfall events. However, water quality analysis and water quality modeling results indicate that the abrupt fish kills in the Yudeung stream seems to be caused by combined effect of DO depletion, increase in turbidity and other toxic material. Excessive fish population in the study area may harm the aesthetic value of the stream and also has greater potential for massive fish kills. It is suggested to implement methods to reduce delivery of pollutants to the stream not only to prevent fish kills but also to keep balance of ecosystem including human uses. Frequent clean up of the urban surface and CSO, installation of detention basin will be helpful. In the long run, it seems combined sewer system has be replaced with separate sewer system for more effective pollutant removal in the urban area.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2018

In order to design the improvement process for T-N removal, the treatment process of Suyoung, Gangbyeon, and Noxan sewage treatment plants (STP) in Busan was anlayzed. Suyoung STP shows a T-N removal efficiency of about 69.8% with MLE(Modified Ludzack ettinger) and A2O+MBR. However, it is necessary to improve the process to maintain over DO of 1 mg/L and is required to install a flow control tank to minimize the rainfall effect. Gangbyun STP shows a about 70.2% T-N removal efficiency with A2O+GFF(gravity fiber filtration). However, in order to improve T-N removal efficiency, it is needed to install MLE process to treat recycle water. Noksan STP shows a T-N removal efficiency of about 71.0% with MLE+Chemical treatment and shows stable T-N concentration in effluent. However, it is required a toxic chemical management process because bad wastewater flows into the STP, also is necessary a process improvement in order to increase internal recycling ratio. Especially, it is required a process improvement to increase HRT of nitrification tank because Suyoung and Gangbyeon STPs shows low nitrification efficiency during winter season.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.283-292
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• 2014

Iron precipitating organisms play a significant role in the formation of ferric hydroxide precipitate, which acts as strong adsorbent for toxic metal. In this respect four different iron precipitating cultures were isolated from Hutti gold mine surface winze water sample on citrate agar medium. The best isolate was screened out for metal removal study on the basis of fast visual iron precipitation. The selected isolate was identified as Enterobacter sp. based on routine biochemical tests and Biolog GN microplate results and as Enterobacter cloacae subsp. dissolvens by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (GenBank accession number EU429448). Influence of medium composition, medium initial pH, the influence of inoculum size, effect of various media and ferric ammonium citrate concentration were studied on metal removal in shake flask experiments. Under the optimized conditions studied, E. cloacae showed $94{\pm}2$, $95{\pm}2$ and $70{\pm}2%$ of cadmium, copper and mercury removal from a simulated waste in shake flask studies. In lab scale column reactor more than 85% of copper and mercury removal was achieved.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.297-304
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• 2014

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a plant native to Europe and has been widely used as a carminative and gastric stimulant worldwide. This plant also has been used in cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component and skin conditioning agent. This study investigated the effect of peppermint oil on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. The animals were randomized into 4 groups based on different topical applications: saline (SA), jojoba oil (JO), 3% minoxidil (MXD), and 3% peppermint oil (PEO). The hair growth effects of the 4-week topical applications were evaluated in terms of hair growth, histological analysis, enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), known bio-markers for the enhanced hair growth. Of the 4 experimental groups, PEO group showed the most prominent hair growth effects; a significant increase in dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth. ALP activity and IGF-1 expression also significantly increased in PEO group. Body weight gain and food efficiency were not significantly different between groups. These results suggest that PEO induces a rapid anagen stage and could be used for a practical agent for hair growth without change of body weight gain and food efficiency.